Explore Vietnam And Cambodia 18 Days

Upon arrival, you will be met outside the baggage claim area by your guide who will escort you to a waiting vehicle for your transfer to downtown with a brief introduction en route. Your guide will be holding a welcome signboard with the ASIA TOUR ADVISOR LOGO & your name. During the drive your guide will provide an introduction to Hanoi.

Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital city and home to seven million people. Traditional and refined, with French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards, scenic lakes and a bustling Old Quarter, Hanoi has a sophisticated charm. Observe elderly people practicing Tai Chi by the lake, with barbers and food vendors plying their sidewalk trade

09h10: You will be collected from Hanoi Old Quarter to take the new highway to Got Ferry Terminal – Cat Hai Town, Haiphong City where we arrive at around 11h30. The passengers have a chance to experience on longest and newest bridge in South East Asia area. You can take special tea at Orchid Cruise’s lounge by warm welcome.
12h15: Transfer by tender to the ORCHID CRUISE.

12h30: We welcome our guests onboard the ORCHID CRUISE and then check in, enjoy Welcome Drink, receive cruise briefing, safety instructions and check in. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay - one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
13h00: ORCHID CRUISE proceeds to Da Chong islet, where you can see a lighthouse built by the French over 100 years ago. Have International Buffet Lunch while passing via the islets of Con Vit area. These amazing limestone karst formations rise up out of the sea in an impressive manner. This area is untouched, as not many cruise ships use the route via the Cat Ba Island - Thoi Quyt area - Coc Ngoi islet - through Gia Luan area where is belong to Cat Ba National Park
14h15: We progress to Trung Trang cave by our bus on Cat Ba island which is located in the middle of Cat Ba National Park with Kim Giao forest around the cave.
Trung Trang Valley is the largest valley on Cat Ba Island. The valley covers an area of approximately 300 hectares, has a depth of 10m to 30m and is around 15km in the middle of Cat Ba National Park. Trung Trang Cave measures 300m lengthwise through the mountains. The cave was carved by nature for more than 2000 years. The cave has many stalactites that take on various shapes that will awe and inspire visitors to use their imagination.
17h00: Orchid Cruise gets in the less populated area at Tra Bau where is located in Lan Ha Bay. You will enjoy the green emerald and cool water by swimming
17h45: Returning ORCHID CRUISE, you can watch the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. Onboard you may join a traditional cooking class. Our chef will instruct you in the making of some Vietnam dishes. In the early evening the boat has its Happy Hour deal
19h30: Sumptuous Candlelight Deluxe Dinner Set Menu is served. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff. This is a delightful meal in an intimate romantic setting
21h30: Enjoy the landscape of the bay at night up on the top deck. Relax whilst enjoying drinks from the bar. Try your hand at night squid fishing, watching a movie in the restaurant. Overnight on board.

06h15: Why not rise early to witness the bay at its very best whilst enjoying an invigorating Tai Chi session on the sundeck; after which we serve the breakfast. Upon completing breakfast continue our journey and head out to explore the bay in the area where Ao Ech is situated.
7h45: You enjoy on your own for kayaking at Ao Ech area to discover the hidden charm of Lan Ha Bay
9h30: Orchid Cruise welcomes you back on board and it is time for checking out

10h00: Whilst cruising back you can enjoy a delightful brunch
10h30: Tea Ceremony is served at the restaurant. You will learn how to enjoy Vietnamese tea and Vietnamese cultural at this ceremony. Joining Tea Ceremony with our crews team and have great fun with us!
11h35: We return to the quay side in the south of the bay, where our visitors disembark.

We bid farewell at GOT ferry, this is the end of the program.
14h00: Be dropped off at your hotel in Hanoi
(Cruise itinerary is subject to change according to different cruises & weather conditions)
Meet your guide at hotel lobby & head out to visit the city highlights. The program is open to your likings, example: See the grand and solemn mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside), the 'icon of Hanoi' - The One Pillar Pagoda, the beautiful Temple of Literature, the bustling Old Quarter, a water puppet performance. Evening free at leisure.

Breakfast at your hotel, ready for the ride to Ninh Binh for visiting Hoa Lu - the Ancient Royal capital of Viet Nam. This will include Dinh king temple and Le king temple in the 10th century, finding out the heroic histories of this two Kings in Chinese Wars. After that, take a boat trip to visit Trang An or Van Long tourist attraction before heading back to your hotel in Hanoi.

This morning, you will be ready to leave Hanoi by sharing bus which takes around 5hrs – 5hr30mins (Passengers on the bus are going on different tours). In the terraced hills and mountains of this area, the expansive green landscape is enlivened by the colors of its hill tribe population - flashes of shining silver jewelry from the necks and wrists of indigo-clad H'mong and the scarlet hues of the turbans worn by the Red Dao can be seen. It is here you will find hands stained with color from fabric dyes and shades of blue, red and green intricately embroidered and stitched into jackets, waistcoats, pants, skirts, caps, purses and leggings.

Arrival, meet your local guide, enjoy lunch & take a short rest before heading to visit Ma Tra Village, where inhabited by Black H'mong ethic. Continue trekking up the village and getting through paddies fields will lead you to an ancient Catholic abbey, built by French colonists. Walk 2 km more to reach Ta Phin Village for exploring the daily life of Red Dzao. Here you have a good choices to buy woven and textile brocades, which is made by ethic people and having picnic lunch before exploring village and Ta Phin Cave and small hamlet of Black H'mong people. At the end of day, return to Sapa & enjoy your leisure evening.

Following a hotel breakfast, meet your guide in the morning and depart on a second trek from the town of Sapa to Golden Stream valley. After crossing a suspension bridge, marvel at the breathtaking scenery as you continue through the Golden Stream valley, stopping at Lao Chai village for lunch. After your meal, follow your guide on a walk through this village where Black Hmong people reside, and continue on to Ta Van village, home to the Dzay tribe.

This part of the hike is relatively easy, though the trail can be quite slippery if it rains, so good footwear is recommended. You’ll visit with some local families and learn about their daily lifestyle and fascinating culture, before departing to the main road to meet up with your driver and return to Sapa.

The minority market is highly recommended to see. There are markets in certain days of Tuesday, Saturday or Sunday. You will see the beautiful colors of different minorities. Return to Sapa in the afternoon.

Note: The market tours take some hours driving by car from Sapa. Alternative option would be trekking more to the further villages around Sapa (Giang Ta Chai, Su Pan Villages etc) & return to hotel in the afternoon

The program is open for this morning. You can have leisure time at hotel, walk in town or seeing more of Ham Rong mountain/ waterfall/ Heaven gate etc. In the afternoon, take the bus trip back to Hanoi, arrive around 22:00 & overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for a short flight to Danang. Arrive in Danang, pick you up and transferring to your hotel in Hoi An.

In the afternoon, exploring the enchanting time-capsule town of Old Hoi An on a walking tour with your guide. Hoi An was a major sea port in Asia and it resulted in a fusion of style and culture that has been perfectly preserved. Wander traditional Chinese shops, luxurious French homes, and an ancient Japanese bridge. The town is home to silk markets, Vietnamese food stalls, and talented street performers-- all of which are sure to charm you.

Our guide will pick you up at the hotel by motobike, riding to visit local villages and then ride back to the river for aboard a local ferry to Kim Bong Village. This village is not only famous for wood carving but weaving sleeping mat as well, so we will stop at a family to see how they weave the mat for every day use in the old time before having today popular mattresses. Visit a local family making the famous local noodle - Mi Quang is the other chance to learn the local life.

You also have a chance to make make and eat the perfect banh dap (rice cracker). Riding into a small village , gearing up for an adrenalin pumping 300 metre bamboo bridge river crossing to the opposing landscape of the sea-board side of the island making our way to Duy Hai market and harbour. Here, the local ferry crossing takes guests to the water coconut palm fringed Cam Thanh village. Have lunch at Cam Thanh homestay. Back your hotel by motobike.

Note: If you prefer biking than scooter tour, we can be flexible to modify the route, matching with your ability.

Option 1 – Cooking class:
Your cooking class today will begin with a visit to a colorful local markets, buying all the necessary ingredients and head back to prepare. Your cheft will demonstrate how to cook some typical Vietnam cruisine, you will then start cooking yourself and enjoy what you have cooked

Option 2 – Vegetable village:
Breakfast at your hotel and then it’s time for a little bit of exercise and a bike ride to Tra Que Village and a visit to a local farm. This is a very special involvement in true Vietnamese rural life. You will learn about the history of the village and then be shown the daily practices of growing vegetables. You will learn how the vegetables are used in traditional Vietnamese medicine. You will join in the activities of the farmers – collecting seaweed fertilizer, sowing, raking, watering and picking. Your cultural immersion continues as you join the family to prepare and eat the lunch you have helped grow.

You will also taste other local specialties such a Tam huu (spring roll) and Bahn xeo (pancake). Of course you must also join in the after lunch nap before returning to the fiel to learn how to harvest and wrap the produce.

Say goodbye to Hoi An, you will be transferred to Hue. On the way, stop over for visiting the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co Beach Cham Museum, ascending the Pass of Ocean Clouds for panoramic views of the surrounding. Arrive in Hue, check in hotel & enjoy your free time.

Start your day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument, continue through the 'Old City' to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax. Later, drive to visit Mu Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River & one of the Royal tombs

At the right time, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Saigon. When you arrive at the airport, you will be met and transferred directly to your hotel. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.

We'll pick you up in the morning and take you to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a major part of the Vietnam-American War and a fascinating day trip-- explore the mysterious tunnels, find hidden doors and once-deadly traps.

After lunch we'll go back to HCMC and spend the afternoon either visiting the War Remnants Museum or the Presidential Palace, whichever you prefer. Then stroll around the city's colonial streets in the evening to the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall.

Leave your hotel in the morning to drive to visit Mekong Delta. On arrival in Hàm Luông pier. Cruise on Bến Tre river exploring the lively activities along river as fishing, water transferring, brick making in handy traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to village. Take a walk to family workshop making sleepmats and enjoying some fruits and tea.

Riding a motor cart (xe lôi) or bike on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on the local life and find out about tropical culture from Peasants. Lunch at Hai Hồ house.
Afternoon - riding a sampan along canal, befor boat back to Ham Luông pier. End you touring, going straight to Can Tho for overnight.

Take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river ( Bassac River), then proceed to visit Cai Răng floating market which are the liveliest in the whole religion. Have you ever tasted Vietnamese vermicelli soup? Well, now go and see how it is made.

Then wander around the village and meet the friendly local people and experience how to cross a "Monkey bridge" which is built by only o¬ne stem of bamboo.
You will then be driven straight to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap. Meet your Cambodian guide & heading to your hotel for checking & relax.

NOTE: Please note the floating market nowadays is not as busy as in some pictures since there are more new road access & traders have more choices of transport than they did before (by boat only). But, this could be the last chances to see the market before it disappears, so it’s still worth a visit.

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to airport for a flight to Siem Reap. Arrive in Siem Reap, pick you up and then visit the ancient Khmer civilization site of Hariharalaya which flourished in the late 9th and earlier 10th centuries. These are the earliest temples in the Angkor area and are referred to the Rolous group (Lo Lei, Preah Koh, and Bakhong Temples).

Lunch with the local family and then we will continue to drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes.Khmers say the temple must have been carved by women for the details are too fine for the hands of a man. On the way back to Siem Reap we will visit the Banteay Samre Temple adorned with impressive reliefs depicting scenes of Vishnu as well as Krishna legends.

Have an early breakfast at hotel. At 07h30, departing the hotel for visit to the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. And continue to visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat - one of the world’s most impressive ruins. The temple still owns fine Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art.

And continue exploring the mysterious Royal city Angkor Thom. City & Bayon Its 54-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Further, visit to the surroundings of the complex including the Baphou, Elephant Terraces, Lipper King Terrace and Royal Palace . Enclosure area and visit one more ruin in Angkor Area of Preah Khan temple, built in 12th century by King Jayavarman VII and it is the same style to Ta Prom Temple.

Your time will be your own until your driver arrives to take you to the airport for your flight home

Accommodation: Check out time is 12:00